Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Vanderbilt University Law School

Journal

1982

Sovereign immunity

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Law

Recent Development: Procedure--Right To A Jury Trial In Actions Against Corporations Owned By Foreign Governments, William A. Zan Blue Jan 1982

Recent Development: Procedure--Right To A Jury Trial In Actions Against Corporations Owned By Foreign Governments, William A. Zan Blue

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Three federal circuit courts of appeals recently have held that United States citizens are not entitled to a jury trial in an action against a commercial corporation owned by a foreign government. The Second, Third, and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeals agree that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), the sole basis for federal subject matter jurisdiction, provides only for nonjury trials in legal actions against commercial corporations owned by a foreign government. These courts also agree that this statutory denial of a jury trial does not abridge a citizen's seventh amendment right. These decisions are important because of the …